Weekly Update
Jan. 6th, 2013 05:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatIf you don't see much of me online this year, it's not because there's something horribly wrong, but rather I'm sticking to one of my New Year's resolutions which is to limit my internet/computer usage at home. I'm on the computer all day at work (no lj access there - site is blocked) and doing it at home too - is starting to hurt me physically - can we say carpal tunnel?
My other New Year's Resolution is to not let work take over my life - like it did last year.
1. In book news, decided to buy the audiobook version of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall as opposed to reading it. In part because I loved the preview and the guy reading it has a great voice. Don't know who it is - damn thing would not tell me. (ETA: Found it - Simon Slater, who apparently is a British actor, who appeared on Doctor Who and Lovejoy. He has a great voice.)
Put it on the ipod touch, will make great walking/exercising and work out material. Also may be good to listen to as I relax at night.
Meanwhile, am actually reading Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin another winner of the Booker Prize. Not that I give a fig about such things - know too much about who the judges are and the process to take book awards remotely seriously. The problem with art is there is no way of knowing how good or lasting it is until you've been dead for 20 years, and people are still reading, watching or viewing it. Today's sensation, is yesterday's one-hit wonder, and last year's trend and a decade's anecdote. In short, no guarantees.
Blind Assassin has been around for a while though - published back in the 1990s.
2. In movie news...finished watching the somewhat sluggish and rather disappointing Hysteria which was loosely based on The Vibrator Play, which actually sounded more amusing. Found it to be a bit too on the nose. And the best things in it were Maggie Gyllenhal and
Rupert Everette. Hugh Dancy does nothing for me. And Jonathan Pryce didn't have enough to do.
Not recommended. The critics must have been stoned or burned out seeing one too many action flicks, most likely the later.
Next in the netflix queue is "Looper", then Dark Knight Rises, Rock of Ages, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and Magic Mike. (I tend to avoid movie theaters...unless absolutely necessary.)
Had a rather grating discussion about movies after church services...
J: Lincoln was terrific, but you want to know a really bad movie - Skyfall.
Me: Uh
S: Yes, truly bad - it's like they were trying to do Batman
J: Exactly - complete with secluded house and old butler.
Me: well it is a Bond Film, I just enjoy and-
J: True, but what were they thinking? A bond film with computers and viruses and all that tech!
Where's the good Bond films of old!
Me: Les Miserables was good -
J: I won't see that too depressing -
Me: Actually it was sort of uplifting -
J: Saw a film ages ago on it about a bunch of students reading Les Mis, we saw it for college, and everybody was weeping - I don't like to see "emotional films" or "big emotion"
S: I completely agree.
ME: So you don't like the cathartic cry?
S&J: No, we don't. Too much emotion. Much better on a smaller screen. We may rent it.
Me: Have you seen the Hobbit?
Jack: No, I hated the first three films.
It gets rather tiresome fighting over stuff, so I don't bother. Just nod my head and agree. Seriously who cares whether I loved Les Mis and Skyfall? This is why people talk about sports, kids, and work...
3. EW cracked me up (caused to burst out laughing or to laugh hard) - with the following tid-bit:
The California Hamster Association is angry that Justin Bieber gave his pet to a fan. Outraged, the world responds, "There's a California Hamster Association?"
4. In US tax news..this week I figured out on behalf of many co-workers why our paychecks were suddenly $43 lower than last week. It appears that the law reducing the "pay-roll" contribution tax (which basically is the amount everyone puts into social security and medicare (well everyone who makes less than $500,000 a year, which is basically 47% of the population - once you start making over a certain amount, you can stop contributing after a specific period of time. Don't ask me, I don't make these laws) - at any rate this law which reduced the payroll contribution in 2010, expired and was permitted to expire because there's not enough money in social security and medicare.
Co-worker: They increased it to give more money to the illegal immigrants.
Me: Uh no, the illegal immigrants can't access the money, since they don't pay social security or medicare and don't have a social security number.
Co-worker wanders off to fume in a huff.
Co-worker: It's all Obama's fault.
Me: No, this is Congress and primarily the House who allowed it to expire - which is run by the Republican Party.
Meanwhile in international tax news (allegedly at any rate), French movie star, Gerard Depardiu, has decided to give up his French citzenship and become a citizen of Russia, in order to avoid a tax hike. He's a millionaire and France has just instituted a 75% tax on millionaire's while Russia apparently has a far more reasonable 13 or 17% tax on millionaire's. This may explain why France's standard of living and public services are slightly better than Russia's. Damn, you'd think a former communist country would have higher taxes on the wealthy than a socialist country. But no. Granted, what I know about this is all from secondary sources - ie, church sermon (minister - who is up on pop culture and clearly reads some of the same stuff I do) and entertainment weekly. So feel free to correct me if this is wrong, just don't expect me to go back and edit. Too Lazy to do an internet fact search.
And finally on a somewhat unrelated topic - ie. government relief for Hurricane Sandy victims, an on-going topic at my work-place - Co-workers were charmed by the nefarious Homeland Security Chief Peter King, who went after the Republican Party for NOT approving funding quickly enough for Hurricane Sandy victims and by the NJ Governor Chris Christie, who also went after his own party, specifically House Speaker Boehner for not approving or even pushing for a vote on the bill. Their combined efforts resulted in NY and NJ getting 9.6 billion. (Keep in mind they asked for 60 billion, so well, you do the math. But hey better than nothing. Also keep in mind that NJ and NY didn't get aid from FEMA and are still waiting for the aid - 65 days after Hurricane Sandy hit, while Florida got it in less than 30 after Andrew, and New Orleans got aide in 35 days. Plus NY and NJ pay more and higher taxes than either Florida or Lousiana. So...suffice it to say, the northeastern states are royally pissed off, especially at the Republican reps from the South and Midwestern States who got relief for their states after violent storms.) That said, some money has been given up front already...
Co-worker: I can't believe this - my tenants got 3,000 dollars each, but I get zip. It was my property that was damaged! I'm the one paying taxes and insurance, not my tenants.
Me: Well they are homeless. Not that I'm not sympathetic..
Co-worker: Yes but shouldn't I get something -
Me: Well yes, but you do need to take care of people who have no homes first. (Pregnant pause). I'm not saying you shouldn't you should...and yes, of course, but speaking as a renter...and how high rents are, it helps to have a home or some help when you are suddenly out of one.
I need to learn to keep my mouth shut or just nod and agree and lie. Don't I?
5. Yoga and Tai Chi. Am attempting Tai Chi, over Yoga, mainly because my back hates floor exercises and weird poses. So I go to this place called "Body and Mind" which specializes in Tai Chi (Korean/Chinese Martial Art/Meditative practice) and Dahn Yoga. It's 29 dollar introductory session. Figure they'll give me an overview of the courses, an idea of the rates, and which would work best for me. Sounds reasonable, right?
I get there. I'm early, because I'm me and it is close to impossible for me to be anything but early unless I make a huge effort. Instead of bringing me tea or just letting me read or giving me the rate sheets and info. The receptionist and one of the trainer's sits down with me and chats, and tries to sell me a wooden pillow. I'm sure they are helpful. But she doesn't tell me how much they cost. There are no price tags. Just how useful they are and how I should buy one. I politely decline. Finally the instructor shows up. Class appears to be over, although I really see one person from the class.
The instructor takes me into a private room and wants me to sit cross-legged. She's a tiny woman.
About 4 feet. I'm not. Sitting cross-legged is not comfortable if you have legs that are four to five feet long and a short torso. Within minutes my legs are killing me as is my back. We chat or try to for 30 minutes about what I'm looking for and what they provide - she has a very thick korean accent and does not speak English well. At no point does she tell me price. Also she doesn't explain what Dahn is. Then she gives me a very painful shiatsu massage. I scream out at different points. And at one point after she is pressing on my chest for a bit - I start to cry. Then she makes me do some exercises that hurt. I'm too tight and stiff.
The next hour she asks rather painful and extremely personal questions. I open up - hoping that she can advise as to the best workout routine and/or course program. But her goal is different than mine - it is to sell me a package and to do so that evening or else. (Seriously, if I didn't know better - I'd have thought I was joining a cult not just taking a few Tai Chi courses to relieve stress.) She tries very hard to convince me to purchase that same night three-months worth of courses and a private healing session - ten weeks. Can't wait until tomorrow. MUST DO IT NOW! If I don't - I won't come back and won't buy. Also if buy now, and don't like it in a month, the organization will refund full amount! It's one of the hardest sale jobs - I've witnessed, all the manipulative tactics used, and for a Tai Chi/Dahn Yoga course??? Sort of goes against the teachings of that discipline, you'd think? I mean aren't they against that sort of thing? This would cost, she tells me, 350-375 for three months, unlimited courses (there is only one Tai Chi, everything is the painful yoga), and 1500 for the private healing. (No where are these prices publicized, not online or on the materials. Nor does she have them written down anywhere.)
I must do this to lose stress, to change. Money should be no object. And she presses that there is something wrong with me if I do not purchase these classes now. That I think too much. I should not think. Just do. Just purchase. If I don't I clearly do not want to change my life, I clearly want to stay in pain and miserable and stressed.
When I finally make it clear that I am not paying for courses that evening and have to think about this. And do not have the money to do it now. (I even end up lying and say I don't have credit cards with me...which I think manages to convince her that she's pushing too hard, and that I feel trapped.) She shuts off. All the nice/kind bit goes. She says - don't do it then. Only do it with gratitude. You clearly have trust issues and don't trust. And then blatantly ignores me. I have to ask her five times for the prices - they don't have them written down anywhere. Finally I get her to write them down on a post-it note and they are different than the prices she told me in the room, much higher.
Annoyed, I walked home - 30-35 minutes away, in the cold - to let off disappointment and frustration. The next two days - every part of my body aches. It's ironic really - I went into it planning on trying a few courses and maybe doing three months. But this woman made me want to avoid the place and warn people away from it. I never want to see her or it again. Hard sales in personal fitness and yoga are a BAD idea. She reminded me a little of some fortune teller's and psychics I've met over the years, as well as a few cultists and pyramid scheme enthusiasts.
Decided to go to B&N instead and bought two DVD's - one on Yoga/Mediation/Tai Chi for Beginners, and another on Beginning Tai Chi - until I can find a group of classes for Tai Chi. People at church were more helpful and said they'd keep an eye out.
Felt somewhat better after watching and doing exercises to the two DVDs. Going to do that. Don't know about gym membership. Workplace does give discounts, but the gyms aren't near me or workplace.
My other New Year's Resolution is to not let work take over my life - like it did last year.
1. In book news, decided to buy the audiobook version of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall as opposed to reading it. In part because I loved the preview and the guy reading it has a great voice. Don't know who it is - damn thing would not tell me. (ETA: Found it - Simon Slater, who apparently is a British actor, who appeared on Doctor Who and Lovejoy. He has a great voice.)
Put it on the ipod touch, will make great walking/exercising and work out material. Also may be good to listen to as I relax at night.
Meanwhile, am actually reading Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin another winner of the Booker Prize. Not that I give a fig about such things - know too much about who the judges are and the process to take book awards remotely seriously. The problem with art is there is no way of knowing how good or lasting it is until you've been dead for 20 years, and people are still reading, watching or viewing it. Today's sensation, is yesterday's one-hit wonder, and last year's trend and a decade's anecdote. In short, no guarantees.
Blind Assassin has been around for a while though - published back in the 1990s.
2. In movie news...finished watching the somewhat sluggish and rather disappointing Hysteria which was loosely based on The Vibrator Play, which actually sounded more amusing. Found it to be a bit too on the nose. And the best things in it were Maggie Gyllenhal and
Rupert Everette. Hugh Dancy does nothing for me. And Jonathan Pryce didn't have enough to do.
Not recommended. The critics must have been stoned or burned out seeing one too many action flicks, most likely the later.
Next in the netflix queue is "Looper", then Dark Knight Rises, Rock of Ages, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and Magic Mike. (I tend to avoid movie theaters...unless absolutely necessary.)
Had a rather grating discussion about movies after church services...
J: Lincoln was terrific, but you want to know a really bad movie - Skyfall.
Me: Uh
S: Yes, truly bad - it's like they were trying to do Batman
J: Exactly - complete with secluded house and old butler.
Me: well it is a Bond Film, I just enjoy and-
J: True, but what were they thinking? A bond film with computers and viruses and all that tech!
Where's the good Bond films of old!
Me: Les Miserables was good -
J: I won't see that too depressing -
Me: Actually it was sort of uplifting -
J: Saw a film ages ago on it about a bunch of students reading Les Mis, we saw it for college, and everybody was weeping - I don't like to see "emotional films" or "big emotion"
S: I completely agree.
ME: So you don't like the cathartic cry?
S&J: No, we don't. Too much emotion. Much better on a smaller screen. We may rent it.
Me: Have you seen the Hobbit?
Jack: No, I hated the first three films.
It gets rather tiresome fighting over stuff, so I don't bother. Just nod my head and agree. Seriously who cares whether I loved Les Mis and Skyfall? This is why people talk about sports, kids, and work...
3. EW cracked me up (caused to burst out laughing or to laugh hard) - with the following tid-bit:
The California Hamster Association is angry that Justin Bieber gave his pet to a fan. Outraged, the world responds, "There's a California Hamster Association?"
4. In US tax news..this week I figured out on behalf of many co-workers why our paychecks were suddenly $43 lower than last week. It appears that the law reducing the "pay-roll" contribution tax (which basically is the amount everyone puts into social security and medicare (well everyone who makes less than $500,000 a year, which is basically 47% of the population - once you start making over a certain amount, you can stop contributing after a specific period of time. Don't ask me, I don't make these laws) - at any rate this law which reduced the payroll contribution in 2010, expired and was permitted to expire because there's not enough money in social security and medicare.
Co-worker: They increased it to give more money to the illegal immigrants.
Me: Uh no, the illegal immigrants can't access the money, since they don't pay social security or medicare and don't have a social security number.
Co-worker wanders off to fume in a huff.
Co-worker: It's all Obama's fault.
Me: No, this is Congress and primarily the House who allowed it to expire - which is run by the Republican Party.
Meanwhile in international tax news (allegedly at any rate), French movie star, Gerard Depardiu, has decided to give up his French citzenship and become a citizen of Russia, in order to avoid a tax hike. He's a millionaire and France has just instituted a 75% tax on millionaire's while Russia apparently has a far more reasonable 13 or 17% tax on millionaire's. This may explain why France's standard of living and public services are slightly better than Russia's. Damn, you'd think a former communist country would have higher taxes on the wealthy than a socialist country. But no. Granted, what I know about this is all from secondary sources - ie, church sermon (minister - who is up on pop culture and clearly reads some of the same stuff I do) and entertainment weekly. So feel free to correct me if this is wrong, just don't expect me to go back and edit. Too Lazy to do an internet fact search.
And finally on a somewhat unrelated topic - ie. government relief for Hurricane Sandy victims, an on-going topic at my work-place - Co-workers were charmed by the nefarious Homeland Security Chief Peter King, who went after the Republican Party for NOT approving funding quickly enough for Hurricane Sandy victims and by the NJ Governor Chris Christie, who also went after his own party, specifically House Speaker Boehner for not approving or even pushing for a vote on the bill. Their combined efforts resulted in NY and NJ getting 9.6 billion. (Keep in mind they asked for 60 billion, so well, you do the math. But hey better than nothing. Also keep in mind that NJ and NY didn't get aid from FEMA and are still waiting for the aid - 65 days after Hurricane Sandy hit, while Florida got it in less than 30 after Andrew, and New Orleans got aide in 35 days. Plus NY and NJ pay more and higher taxes than either Florida or Lousiana. So...suffice it to say, the northeastern states are royally pissed off, especially at the Republican reps from the South and Midwestern States who got relief for their states after violent storms.) That said, some money has been given up front already...
Co-worker: I can't believe this - my tenants got 3,000 dollars each, but I get zip. It was my property that was damaged! I'm the one paying taxes and insurance, not my tenants.
Me: Well they are homeless. Not that I'm not sympathetic..
Co-worker: Yes but shouldn't I get something -
Me: Well yes, but you do need to take care of people who have no homes first. (Pregnant pause). I'm not saying you shouldn't you should...and yes, of course, but speaking as a renter...and how high rents are, it helps to have a home or some help when you are suddenly out of one.
I need to learn to keep my mouth shut or just nod and agree and lie. Don't I?
5. Yoga and Tai Chi. Am attempting Tai Chi, over Yoga, mainly because my back hates floor exercises and weird poses. So I go to this place called "Body and Mind" which specializes in Tai Chi (Korean/Chinese Martial Art/Meditative practice) and Dahn Yoga. It's 29 dollar introductory session. Figure they'll give me an overview of the courses, an idea of the rates, and which would work best for me. Sounds reasonable, right?
I get there. I'm early, because I'm me and it is close to impossible for me to be anything but early unless I make a huge effort. Instead of bringing me tea or just letting me read or giving me the rate sheets and info. The receptionist and one of the trainer's sits down with me and chats, and tries to sell me a wooden pillow. I'm sure they are helpful. But she doesn't tell me how much they cost. There are no price tags. Just how useful they are and how I should buy one. I politely decline. Finally the instructor shows up. Class appears to be over, although I really see one person from the class.
The instructor takes me into a private room and wants me to sit cross-legged. She's a tiny woman.
About 4 feet. I'm not. Sitting cross-legged is not comfortable if you have legs that are four to five feet long and a short torso. Within minutes my legs are killing me as is my back. We chat or try to for 30 minutes about what I'm looking for and what they provide - she has a very thick korean accent and does not speak English well. At no point does she tell me price. Also she doesn't explain what Dahn is. Then she gives me a very painful shiatsu massage. I scream out at different points. And at one point after she is pressing on my chest for a bit - I start to cry. Then she makes me do some exercises that hurt. I'm too tight and stiff.
The next hour she asks rather painful and extremely personal questions. I open up - hoping that she can advise as to the best workout routine and/or course program. But her goal is different than mine - it is to sell me a package and to do so that evening or else. (Seriously, if I didn't know better - I'd have thought I was joining a cult not just taking a few Tai Chi courses to relieve stress.) She tries very hard to convince me to purchase that same night three-months worth of courses and a private healing session - ten weeks. Can't wait until tomorrow. MUST DO IT NOW! If I don't - I won't come back and won't buy. Also if buy now, and don't like it in a month, the organization will refund full amount! It's one of the hardest sale jobs - I've witnessed, all the manipulative tactics used, and for a Tai Chi/Dahn Yoga course??? Sort of goes against the teachings of that discipline, you'd think? I mean aren't they against that sort of thing? This would cost, she tells me, 350-375 for three months, unlimited courses (there is only one Tai Chi, everything is the painful yoga), and 1500 for the private healing. (No where are these prices publicized, not online or on the materials. Nor does she have them written down anywhere.)
I must do this to lose stress, to change. Money should be no object. And she presses that there is something wrong with me if I do not purchase these classes now. That I think too much. I should not think. Just do. Just purchase. If I don't I clearly do not want to change my life, I clearly want to stay in pain and miserable and stressed.
When I finally make it clear that I am not paying for courses that evening and have to think about this. And do not have the money to do it now. (I even end up lying and say I don't have credit cards with me...which I think manages to convince her that she's pushing too hard, and that I feel trapped.) She shuts off. All the nice/kind bit goes. She says - don't do it then. Only do it with gratitude. You clearly have trust issues and don't trust. And then blatantly ignores me. I have to ask her five times for the prices - they don't have them written down anywhere. Finally I get her to write them down on a post-it note and they are different than the prices she told me in the room, much higher.
Annoyed, I walked home - 30-35 minutes away, in the cold - to let off disappointment and frustration. The next two days - every part of my body aches. It's ironic really - I went into it planning on trying a few courses and maybe doing three months. But this woman made me want to avoid the place and warn people away from it. I never want to see her or it again. Hard sales in personal fitness and yoga are a BAD idea. She reminded me a little of some fortune teller's and psychics I've met over the years, as well as a few cultists and pyramid scheme enthusiasts.
Decided to go to B&N instead and bought two DVD's - one on Yoga/Mediation/Tai Chi for Beginners, and another on Beginning Tai Chi - until I can find a group of classes for Tai Chi. People at church were more helpful and said they'd keep an eye out.
Felt somewhat better after watching and doing exercises to the two DVDs. Going to do that. Don't know about gym membership. Workplace does give discounts, but the gyms aren't near me or workplace.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2013-01-07 12:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-08 02:45 am (UTC)Trying the tapes for a while first...
no subject
Date: 2013-01-08 01:18 am (UTC)My mom did Tai Chi after her heart attack and she loved it. She, like you, hates yoga. It makes her angry! LOL
The dvd is probably the best route, just to see if you actually like it. And much cheaper than that place.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-08 02:48 am (UTC)Not sure why a Tai Chi/Yoga place would do a "hard sales" technique...sort of goes against the whole point of it, you'd think.